The Town Files

Ector County, Texas

164,654 people. The median home is worth $200,200 (typical Texas town: $184,100) and the median household earns $71,536.

Towns in Ector County

Towns in Ector County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Odessa114,428$223,100$73,47231.1
West Odessa33,340$126,300$65,23433.7

People and housing

Ector CountyTypical Texas town
Median home value$200,200$184,100
Median rent$1,259$1,086
Median household income$71,536$65,842
Median age31.437.1
Bachelor's degree or higher17.6%18.9%
Below the poverty line16.5%13.1%

Jobs and pay

79,763 jobs in 2024, average pay $75,029 a year.

Largest industries in Ector CountyMining, oil & gas12,258 jobs · $115,992Hotels & restaurants9,077 jobs · $27,120Retail8,774 jobs · $44,134Construction6,880 jobs · $90,094Wholesale trade6,634 jobs · $100,960Health care & social assistan…5,063 jobs · $62,174
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Ector County0%2%4%6%8%10%12%2000200420082012201620202023 3.3%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 714 storm events in Ector County from 1996 to 2026, with 1 deaths.

Storm events in Ector County by type since 1996Hail289Flood3Drought16Tornado12High Wind31Ice Storm8Lightning3Heavy Rain13Heavy Snow8Flash Flood165
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Ector County has been included in 15 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
February 19, 2021Severe Ice StormDR-4586: Severe Winter Storms
February 14, 2021Severe Ice StormEM-3554: Severe Winter Storm
March 25, 2020BiologicalDR-4485: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3458: Covid-19
April 27, 2011FireFM-2901: Pleasant Farms Fire
April 3, 2011FireFM-2881: Bates Field Fire
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).